THE FABELMANS
Released Friday 27 January
Synopsis: Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother.
Cast: Tony Kushner, Michelle Williams,Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle, Judd Hirsch
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cert: 12A
FAB UK REVIEW:
This is perhaps the film Director Steven Spielberg always wanted to make, and he enlisted Tony Award Winner Tony Kushner (Angels in America) to help write this movie that is basically an ode to Spielbergs childhood.
Gabrielle LaBelle is fantastic as Sammy – the ‘young Spielberg’ who, after taken by his parents to see a screening of Cecil B. DeMille’s ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’, gets the filmmaking bug. Using his fathers camera (Paul Dano), and with the support and love of his mother Mitzi (a very good Michelle Williams, Oscar-nominated for this role), Sammy films everything. But Sammy sometimes films too much, and sees things through the camera that should’ve always been kept in the closet with the rest of the family secrets. Meanwhile Mitzi is not the most stable mother on the block, especially after the family moves to another state. And with the death of her mom, and with rumours swirling about Mitzi and a male friend of the family, Sammy perhaps has captured too much and does not want to face the truth about his family. But we all know how Spielbergs life turned out, and we can only assume this is how Sammy’s life will turn out, especially after a chance meeting with legendary film director John Ford.
Up for 8 Oscars, deservedly so, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, ’The Fabelmans’ is an endearing film but it could’ve been so much more. It drags a bit in the middle (the film is 150 minutes – quite long for a drama), and was practically shut out of the top BAFTA nominations. It won the Golden Globe for Best Picture and Best Director, and Judd Hirsch, who plays the grandfather, was just nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, so this proved Hollywood loves this sort of film, and they love showering their own with awards. You will love this film too, if you are able to sit through the whole thing.
PLANE
Released Friday 27 January
Synopsis: Pilot Brodie Torrance saves passengers from a lightning strike by making a risky landing on a war-torn island – only to find that surviving the landing was just the beginning. When dangerous rebels take most of the passengers hostage, the only person Torrance can count on for help is Louis Gaspare, an accused murderer who was being transported by the FBI.
Cast: Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Yoson An
Director: Jean Francois-Richet
Cert: 15
UNWELCOME
Released Friday 27 January
Synopsis: A couple escape their urban nightmare to the tranquility of rural Ireland, only to hear stories of mysterious creatures who live in the gnarled, ancient woods at the foot of their garden. As warned by their new neighbors, the creatures come when called to help souls in dire need of rescue, but it’s crucial to remember that there’s always a dear price to pay for their aid.
Cast: Colm Meaney, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Chris Walley, Douglas Booth and Kristian Nairn
Director: Jon Wright
Cert: 15
Also released this week:
ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED
Release date: Friday 27 January | Cert: 18
JANUARY
Release date: Friday 27 January | Cert: 12